Paul C. Buff, Inc. Technical Forum

I was hoping someone could tell me precisely at what power level the Einstein hits 1/1000 per second at t.1 For the work I do its essential to have a flash duration of 1/1000 or faster. 1/555 just wont cut it. Im not sure whether to pick up two 800b's now or hold out for the Einstein. Ultimately id love to be able to overpower the sun at around 30feet but i figure id need alot of 800b's to do that.
Yeah, so if anyone can tell me at what power level the Einstein hits the illusive action sports flash duration of 1/1000 Id be greatly appreciative.

Many thanks.

This was quoted from the Einstein Specifications page found on PCB web page. Of course 1/2 power = 320ws on the Einstein. hope it helps.

RMS

"At ½ power in ACTION MODE the t.1 flash duration is approximately 1/2000 second and the color temperature is approximately 5750K. Absolute values of flash duration and color temperature are indicated on the rear LCD display and are yet to be fully specified."

There is a nice graph in the user manual showing t.1 flash duration vs. power.

http://www.paulcbuff.com/manuals/e640prelimmanual.pdf

I was just about to post the same thing. It looks like in action mode you'd be able to get over 3/4 power out of the Einstein to maintain a t.1 of 1/1000, or around 500 WS.

I think it would be just under 500Ws. Around 430. And that is in ACTION mode.

That's about right. But remember, 1/1000 t.1 with IGBT tube cutoff stops action more crisply than 1/1000 from a conventional light - like AB800 at full power. On a conventional light, there remains a tail or light falloff at about 3f below the main exposure for a significant time following the t.1 time. This can still cause blur to the whiter parts of the scene. With Einstein the cutoff eliminates this tail entirely, so there is no light whatsoever after the t.1 period.

Thanks for the responses.

I was kind of hoping the Einstein would follow the previous alien bees in that the fastest flash duration is achieved at the highest power setting.
Regardless, it still should be enough juice at 2/3 power and a long throw reflector to do what I'm after. Over powering the sun and not having motion blur is the goal

That would defeat the whole purpose of the IGBT control and shortest t.1 duration would be on the order of 1/600 and it would not have constant color capability.